The Hanwella Fort believed to have been built by King Mayadunne of Sitawake to protect his Kingdom from local and foreign invasions, had been used by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British to invade Sitawake and the Kandyan Kingdoms respectively.

Historical records show that it has been destroyed in battles at various stages and had been either renovated or rebuilt by foreign invaders.

During the Portuguese period it was renovated by Don Jeronimo de Azavedo in 1594 and was rebuilt by Spilbergen during the Dutch period in 1684. It fell into the hands of the Kandyan King in 1761. The Fort was captured by the British around 1803.

Since the Fort is no more in existence the remaining portion of the historical moat is the only evidence of a star shaped fort at Hanwella.